Stuffing-box for flexible steam or gas turbine shafts.



PATENTED APR. 7, 1903 A. SGHI'I'ITTQ STUFFING BOX FOR FLEXIBLE STEAM 0RGAS TURBINE SHAFTS.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 12, 1902.

N0 MODEL.

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' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALFRED scHUTr, or CHARLOTTENBURG, GERMANY.

STUFFING-BOX l-"OR FLEXIBLE STEAM OR GAS TURBINE SHAFTS SPECIFICATIONformingpart of Letters Patent No. '794,510, dated. April 7, 1903.

Application filecl April 12,

specification. r

The present invention relates to a resilient stuffing-box for flexiblesteam and gas turbine shafts.

takes a curved shape and that the centerof gravity of the working Wheelfalls into the axis of rotation. Now the stuffing-box located at theoutlet of the turbine-case and designed for packing the shaft willhardly do this properly on account of the curved shape of said shaft. Agas-tight packing is particularlydifficult to obtain with such turbinesas are driven by vapors of liquids of low boiling-point, because thecold vapors arising from those liquids are adapted to pence trate anykind of packing material without counting that the condenser-pressure ofsuch gases generally lies several pounds per square inch above theatmospheric pressure. Furthermore, it ought to be taken into accountthat even the smallest leakage may give cause cannot follow the shaft inits different deflections.

In the present specification I describe a perfectly tight stu ffing-boxfor steam and gas turbines characterized through its being divided intotwo parts elastically linked together in its center, by which means itis attained that the stu ffing-box becomes resilient and adapted toclosely follow all movements of the shaft.

In most steam or gas turbine plants the shaft inside the turbine-case isofso reduced a diameter thatwhenrunning it 1902. Serial No. 102,577. (Nomodel.)

In the accompanying drawing a form of execution of this mechanism isillustrated. The shaft, which may bejournaledinside or outside theturbine-casing, emerges from the latter through the stuffing-collar g,strongly and tightly affixed to said casing and lined, for instance,with the well-known so-called movable metal packing. The stuffing-boxhalf or collar 9 is connected to the other collar why an elasticconnection, preferably in the nature of a corrugated sleeve 0, sucharrangement permitting the collar a, in spite of its being steam-tightunited to the other collar '9, to follow independently of the latter anylateral movement of the shaft, insuring thereby its unvariedconcentrical running in the "collar a of the stuffing-box, which, as iswell known, is the first requirement for attaining a reliable working ofthe stuffing-box.

The space d, contained between the two halvesct and g of thestuffing-box and in closed by the elastic connection or sleeve 0, playsin my case the part of the known hollow space which stands under lowpressure, for -which purpose it is connected to the condenser of theengine by means of the two tubes 6 and f.

What I claim as my invention, and want to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. The combination, with a flexible continuous rotary shaft, of a rigidstuffing-box section surrounding a portion of said shaft, anotherstuffing-box section surrounding a different portion of the shaft andengaging the same, said second' section being carried by the shaft andfreely movable therewith so as to follow the shaft in its lateraldeviations without material resistance, and a flexible connectionextending from one stuffing-box section tothe other.

2. The combination with a flexible continuous rotary shaft, of a rigidstuffing-box section surrounding and engaging the inner portion of saidshaft, another stuffing-box section surrounding and engaging the outerportion of the shaft, said second section being carried by the shaft andfreely movable therewith, so as to follow the shaft in its lateraldeviations without material resistance, and an elastic sleeve extendingfrom one stuffing-box section to the other.

3. The combination with a. flexible continuous rotary shaft, of a rigidstuffing-box section engaging and surrounding one portion of said shaft,another stuffing-box section surrounding and engaging a differentportion of the shaft, said second section being carried by the shaft andfreely movable therewith to follow the shaft in its lateral deviationswithout material resistance, and an elastic connection consisting of acorrugated sleeve extending from one stuffing-box section to the other.

4. The combination, with a flexible shaft, of a fixed stuffing-boxsection surrounding and engaginga portion of said shaft, anotherstuffing-box section surrounding and engaging adifferent portion of saidshaft, said second section being movable so as to follow the shaft inits lateral deviations, a tubular flexible connection extending from onestuffingbox section to the other, and a tube or channel leading into thespace surrounded by said tubular connection;

5. The combination with a flexible shaft, of a fixed stufling-boxsection surrounding and engaging a portion of said shaft, anotherstuffing-box section surrounding and engaging a different portion of theshaft, said second section being movable to follow the shaft in itslateral deviations, and an imperforate tubular flexible connectionextending from one stuffing-box section to the other, so as to surroundand inclose the portion of the shaft which is between the twostuffing-box sections.

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name, this 29th day ofMarch, 1902, in presence of two subscribing witnesses,

ALFRED SGIIUTT.

\Vitnesses:

HENRY HAsPER, WoLnEMAR HAUPT.

